The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) has confirmed that the much-anticipated National Teaching Service (NTS) has not yet been implemented, as it is currently under active development in consultation with the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC). The NTS, which was announced during last year’s Meet-the-Press session, is envisioned …

With growing public concern over the state of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) infrastructure and hospital waste handling, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has clarified the critical measures in place to safeguard patient care and safety across the country’s health facilities. Currently, Bhutan has a total of 23 ICU beds distributed …

Bhutan has a growing alcohol crisis that is draining the country’s economy and overwhelming the health system. According to the Health Minister, Tandin Wangchuk, the nation incurs an estimated annual loss of Nu 6.5 billion (bn) due to alcohol-related harm, which is equivalent to 2.6 percent of Bhutan’s Gross Domestic …

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, and Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks in the Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, which have Bhutanese students, there is heightened concerns among Bhutanese families who have their children pursuing higher education in India. The Foreign Minister Lyonpo D.N Dhungyel said, …

Under this paper’s observation and as confirmed by multiple sources, the Emergency Department at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) is experiencing a critical shortage of health workers and patient beds. Some of the health workers at JDWNRH say the ongoing staff shortage in the Emergency Department is placing …

Bhutan’s press freedom ranking has fallen by five positions, from 147th in 2024 to 152nd in 2025, according to the latest World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).   The ranking is for 180 countries. Bhutan now ranks among those classified under a “difficult” press freedom situation. The …

The recent nationwide screening for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has revealed a troubling surge in cases of hypertension and diabetes in Bhutan. Conducted by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the campaign screened over 320,000 (more than 75 percent) of the adult population and identified 12,000 new cases of NCDs on 9th …

Despite a steady stream of certified graduates from teacher training programs, rural teaching posts in Bhutan are still largely ignored. The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) said many graduates are unwilling to take up positions in remote schools. The ministry said, “Posting to rural and remote schools remains …

To further enhance STEM education across Bhutan, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) has recruited an additional 15 foreign STEM teachers, who are expected to be deployed within this month, if possible. This recruitment is part of MoESD’s ongoing effort to address the shortage of qualified STEM teachers …

The Royal Centre for Disease Control (RCDC), under the Ministry of Health, has observed a notable increase in influenza activity in Bhutan over the last two weeks. The observation is based on the biweekly National Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance conducted for epidemiological weeks 13 and 14, covering the period from …